Apparatus for forming glassware



May 25, 1937- K. E. PEILER ET AL APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE 6Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1932 wizfies;

5 S W m 2 wn vwa. e Z w k .z fl m? [f /0 May 25, 1937. K. E. PEILER ETAL APPARATUS FOR FORMlNG GLASSWARE Filed Oct. 13, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 27. r swa 1 1% were Z0719; [(2272 E P3273? (196:9 JSm2'Z% Wzim e55; 5 WWW'Z I @3559 71% B35 May 25, 1937 K. E. PEILER ET AL APPARATUS FORFORMING GLASSWARE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 13, 1932 [fa 7% la".PeiZeT flZ Z J SFid 771 1 May 25, 1937.

K. E. PEILER ET AL APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASSWARE Filed Oct. 15, 1932 eSheets-sheaf 4 y 1937- K. E. PEILER, ET AL APPARATUS FOR FORMINGGLASSWARE 6 Sheets-Shei 5 Filed Oct. 15, 1932 \wm m w Q km R g 3 MNPatented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Karl E. Peiler, WestHartford, and Algy J.

Smith,

Bloomfield, Conn., assignors to Hartford- Empire Company, Hartford,Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application October 13, 1932, Serial No.637,602

15 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming glass articles, such asbottles, and more particularly to apparatus of this character,comprising a plurality of similar and preferably autonomous glassforming units, each of which may be of the character of those nowemployed in the commercial machines known as the Hartford 1. S.(independent section) machines. Certain of the basic principles ofconstruction and operation of this I. S. machine are disclosed in theIngle Patents 1,843,159 and 1,843,160, both granted Feb. 2, 1932.Certain other of the basic principles of this machine are disclosed andclaimed in the patent to P'eiler (one of the present co-inventors)1,826,019, granted October 6, 1931. A somewhat more improved form of themachine, substantially thatnow in commercial use, is disclosed andclaimed in the copending application of Henry W. Ingle, Serial No.275,093,

. filed May 4, 1928, now Patent No. 1,911,119, granted May 23, 1933, andentitled Glassware forming machine. i

In the previously patented forms of this machine, and also in themachines which have been constructed and are now in commercial use, foursimilar units have been assembled together as a unitary machine. It hasbeen found in practice that this four-unit machine has beensubstantially the equivalent in productive capacity to some six-unitmachines of the rotary type also in commercial use at the present time.It is desired, however, to increase the productive capacity of a machineof this general type which may be supplied with glass from a singlefeeder so as in the normal course of operation, as will be hereinafterset forth, the machine will be capable of utilizing the entire feedercapacity, which has not been the case with many of the prior artmachines. At the same time it is desired to provide a machine having themaximum possible flexibility in operation, that is, a machine which ispotentially capable of producing a greater variety of sizes and shapesof articles and at desired speeds up to the speed capacity of themachine.

Among the objects of the present invention, therefore, are to provide aglassware forming machine and article handling mechanisms associatedtherewith by which a high degree of flexibility is available and inwhich a high potential machine speed is obtainable for manufacturingglass articles, and to provide such an organized system of machine,feeder, and article handling means as will permit of the most economicalscheduling arrangements for the factory operations, while at the sametime providing a (on. m -s) machine having all of the inherentadvantages of the present commercial .Hartford I. S. machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thetype above referred to in which the'units as a whole occupy fixedpredetermined positions rather than rotate, thus conserving in theamount of power required to operate the machine and reducing wear and.resultant upkeep costs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described in which provision is made for moving any of theindividualunits from their respective operative positions to some otherpositions, at which access may be had to their several parts for repair,replacement or adjustment.-

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plural unitmachine in which all of the units are grouped in predetermined positionsabout a central point or zone and are adapted to be supplied with glasscharges from a single glass feeding device and in which the charges aresupplied to the blank molds of the several units, which molds arelocated at points horizontally more distant from the center point orzone of the group of units than are the asso-" ciated blow molds of therespective unitsin which the articles being formed are given their finalshape, so that articles may be removed from all the units toward theregion centrally thereof and preferably also so that mechanical take-outmeans may be employed to remove articles from the final blow molds ofthe several units and place them upon a single conveyor passing throughor from the region centrally of the grouped units for conveying thefinished articles to a desired point, which in practice will be adjacentto the ware-loading end of an annealing lehr.

A further object of the, present invention is to provide .a plural unitmachine of the character above set forth in which provision is made forsynchronizing the feeder, the machine, and the takeout and conveyingmechanisms, so that each may operate in properly timed relation withrespect to the others and so that articles will be delivered by theconveyor in evenly spaced relation both as to distance apart on theconveyor and as to the increments of time between the arrival ofsuccessive articles at a predetermined point to which they are moved bythe conveyor; and further to provide arrangements whereby any number ofunits less than the whole number provided may be operated in uniformlydistributed time relation so that all of the charges supplied by thefeeder associated therewith may be distributed to the units remaining inoperation and no charges be lost to cullet and so that the sameconditions of delivery of the finished articles by the conveyor as tothe space therebetween on such conveyor may be had, as in the case whereall the units are in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide takeout andconveying means for the completed articles formed by a machine, as aboveset forth, in which there are provided dead plates adjacent orcontiguous to the conveyor having means for cooling the finishedarticles placed thereon, thus including in the present organized machineand manufacturing and handling arrangements for the ware all theadvantages pres-. ent in the device disclosed in the copendingapplication of Ingle, Serial No. 418,524, filed January 4, 1930 nowPatent No. 1,921,390, granted Aug. 8, 1933 and entitled Glasswareconveyor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide preferablycentrally of the grouped units, a cullet funnel for directing charges ofglass supplied by the feeder ahd not distributed to one or another ofthe several units to a suitable receiving point, as some point beneaththe floor upon which the machine is located, or on a lower floor in theplant, such cullet funnel being rotated while the machine is inoperation for the purpose of presenting a relatively cool surface to'each of the charges of glass directed eccentrically thereinto, wherebyto prevent any portion of the funnel being heated to such anextent bycontact with the hot glass delivered thereto that the glass will adhereto the funnel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in an organizedmachine of the charac ter described, a cullet funnel serving as a linkin the mechanical chain of driving mechanisms intermediate the feederand the several units of the machine so that, for example, the feederdrive may be connected to rotate the cullet funnel and the rotation ofthis funnel may be in turn emv ployed to drive the timing means for eachof the several units.

'Further and more detailed objects and advantages of the present machineand organized arrangement of mechanisms for feeding, forming andhandling the ware being made will become more apparent from a reading ofthe following speci cation and sub-joined claims when taken in connctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view. of a machine embodying.

* our invention, a glass feeder for supplying glass charges to theseveral units of the machine being indicated in dotand-dash lines toshow the relation between the feeder and the machine, and certain partsbeing omitted or broken away to show some of the details ofconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a plan view,

several units and the relative arrangement of the units, and thetake-outs and article-conveying means for the completed articles,certain of the-details of the forming mechanism of one unit being shownin full, and the other unitsbeing shown merely diagrammatically;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in plan view and partly in horizontal section,of certain of the base structures for the machine, showing particularlythe means for moving the units into and out of their operative positionsand certain of the means for synchronizing the timing of 5. lnwhanismsof in many respects similar to Fig. 1, showing the mold arrangements forthe the individual units with the feeder and other operating mechanismsfor the device;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, principally in vertical section, andshowing a forming unit in outline only, which illustrates particularlythe driving means for the timers of the individual units and the meanswhich move the units into and out of operative position;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical sectionshowing the relation of the feeder to one unit ofthe machine group, andshowing also the cullet disposal means and the take-out and conveyormeans for the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in vertical section showing the means foradjusting the timing of one of the timing drums for an individualforming unit; 1

Fig.7 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing one of the take-outmechanisms and the operating and adjusting means therefor;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bottom of anoperating cylinder for one of the take-out mechanisms showing theconstruction and operation of one of the adjustments therefor;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, principally in horizontal section showingcertain of the adjusting means for the final blow bottom plate and thetake-out for one of the forming units, and particularly showing certaindifferences between the construction of these parts of the forming unitsof the present machine and those of the units of the machine shown inthe Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119, above referred to:

Fig. 10 is a view principally inplan showing the removal conveyor forthe finished articles and the dead plates and push-offs associatedtherewith;

. Fig. 11 is a view principally in elevation of the parts of the deviceshown in Fig. 10

Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section taken on the line I2|2 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view in vertical-section taken on the line Iii-l3 in Fig.10;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view, principally in verticalsection, of a portion of the device shown in Fig, 13; I

Fig. 15 is a view, principally in vertical section and on anenlargedscale, ofa portion of the phase changing device shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 16 is a view, partly in horizontal section and partly in plan,taken on the line l6-l8 in Fig. 15.

' As will be hereinafter more fully set forth, the machine of thepresent application. is a six-unit machine in which the six units aregrouped about a common point in a substantially radial arrangem ent andin which there are provisions for operating any number of units from oneup to six in evenly spaced time relation, so as to utilize all thecharges of glass supplied by a feeder which preferably supplies itscharges ata place in vertical alignment with the point about which theunits are grouped. Also there are means for automatically. handling thecompleted articles from all the units in operation irrespective of thenumber of such units which are in operation up to the total number ofunits, and for delivering. such articles upon the conveyor in evenlyspac i I relation thereon.

A machine of .this character lends itself admirably to a novel factoryset-up by which extremely economical factory planning and productionscheduling operations may be had. For example, we may consider as aglass manufacturing unit, a tank of approximately 40 tons capacity in 24hours associated with which are three feeders, each supplying charges ofglass to a machine of the type hereinafter to be described in detail. Insome installations, it may however be found desirable to replace one ormore of these three machines by a machine of the Hartford I. S. type asset forth in the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119 above referred to. From eachof these machines a conveying system leads to a suitable delivery pointat which there may be located an automatic stacking mechanism of thetype disclosed in the patent to Lorenz, No. 1,878,156, issued September20, 1932, which will receive articles from a predetermined point uponthe conveyor and stack them upon the conveying belt of a glass annealinglehr, which may be of the type disclosed in the patent to Mulholland,No. 1,560,481, granted November 3, 1925. Thus, there will be threestackers and three lehrs, one for receiving the articles. produced byeach of the three machines. All these devices together may be considereda manufacturing unit from the point of view of the plant as a whole. Theentire plant may have as many of these units as its production requires.

Turning now to the reasons underlying a setup of the type suggested, itis well known that glass furnaces operate most efficiently at a givenproduction expressed in tons of glass made per day of 24 hours. If it isattempted to make more glass than this amount, the quality of the glassfalls and may reach a point such that the glass will be unfit for use inthe manufacture of commercial articles. On the other hand, if thispredetermined amount of glass is not drawn from the tank, the cost perton drawn rises to a material extent. Thus, from the point of view ofthe manufacturer, it is desirable that the ton nage pull upon each tankin his factory for every 24 hours be substantially uniform. The formingmachine costs represent a smaller proportion of the cost of a singlecompleted article, than do the costs of producing the glass necessaryfor that article. Thus, if a greater forming machine capacity isavailable than is used at all times, the loss in this case is much. lessthan would be the case if the tank were operated at an efficiency lowerthan its maximum. For this reason, it is desired to have excess formingmachine or mold capacity'and to leave some. of this capacity idle attimes, rather than materially to vary the pull on the tank expressed intons of glass per 24 hours. The machine of the present application lendsitself admirably to such an arrangement in that it has a high degree offlexibility and more specifically in that one or more of the formingunits of the machine may be maintained out of operation and theremaining units maintained in operation to use all the glass deliveredby the associated feeder. Furthermore. in this way the pull of glassthrough the various feeders may be maintained fairly uniformirrespective of changes required in scheduling of the plant. Thus theflow of glass through the tempering chamber of the tank immediatelypreceding the forehearihs, with which the respective feeders areassociated. may be maintained relatively constant resulting in betterglass (with the exception of the short time during which a job change isbeing made).

As a practical matter, it may be advantageous in operating a tank of thecapacity above referred to (40 tons per 24 hours) to have each fi-ederoperating to produce mold cha ges of a given weight range. Thus, forexample, with the devices above referred to, feeder A may producecharges with a weight range of 2 to 9 ozs.,

feeder E9 to .15 ozs., and feeder C, 15 to 26 ozs.

(These feeders and the tank are not shown on the drawings.)

As above set forth, it is desired to have the forming machine capacityusually greater than that of the predetermined tank capacity and morespecifically it has been found that probably the best arrangement is tohave the forming machine capacity such that when all the forming unitsof the three machines are in operation, the

entire tank capacity will be drawn if the articles beingmade are at thelowest end of the several weight ranges for the several feeders. Thus,for example, if feeder A is delivering mold charges of 2 ozs. and themachine associated therewith is operating at a speed of 11 articles permold unit, per minute, feeder A will deliver 7.428

tons of glass in 24 hours. Similarly, with all 6 mold units in operationthe machine associated with feeder B will form the lightest articles inits predetermined range for this feeder, to wit, 9 oz. articles at aspeed of 6.3 articles per mold unit, per minute. Feeder B will thendeliver 15.312 tons of glass in 24 hours. At the same time, feeder C maydeliver the lightest weight charges in its predetermined range, namely15 oz. charges of glass. therewith may be in full operation as to all 6units, each at a speed of 4.5 articles per minute; feeder C will thensupply 18.228 tons of glass in 24 hours. Thus, all three feeders willsupply 40.968 tons of glass-in the 24 hours.

Suppose now with the same apparatus, it is desiredto manufacturearticles of 2% 02. weight on the machine associated with feeder A, 11oz. weight on the machine associated with feeder B and 22 oz. weightupon the machine associated with feeder C. The machine'speeds in Themachine associated terms of articles per mold unit per minute will.

be respectively 10.7, 5.4 and 3.7. The tonnage from feeders A. B and Cwill be 7.926, 13.975 and 18.730 tons of glass per 24 hours, or a40.631. In this set up. the machine associated with feeder A will haveall 6 of its units in operation, and the machines associated, withfeeders B and C will each have one unit idle ,or 5 units in operation. 7idle out of the 18 available, the draw onthe tank will be 40.631 asagainst 40.968 with all units in operation upon minimum weight chargesfor the several operating ranges of the three feeders. Many other how agreat variety of different weight articles may be made at an economicalspeed of manufacturing, and with the draw upon the tank maintainedsubstantially constant, at least with in the economical operating rangeand with one or more of the forming units idle in order to balance theactual draw on the tank to that desired.

The actual production now being made in a commercial operating plant hasbeen taken as a basis and a schedule laid out for a proposed plan,comprising a plurality of manufacturing units, each of the type aboveset forth. and the actual draw upon the several tanks has beenmaintained by proper scheduling very close to the desired efiicient rateof tank operation to prove the practicability of this plan.

The real success of the plan lies in the ability of retiming the unitsof the forming machine with respect to their associated feeder and withtotal of Thus with only two mold units i examples could be given to showrespect to the article handling mechanisms employed so as to utilize allthe charges of glass supplied by the feeder in one or another of theoperating units of the forming machine, while at some times maintainingone or more forming units out of operation as may be necessary to obtainan even pull on the tank and at the same time presenting the completedarticles upon the takeout conveyor for delivery to the stacking andannealing devices used in uniform spaced relations so that they mayproperly be handled by an automatic stacker, thus providing a completelyautomatic manufacturing process. In this way, great economies areeffected in manufacturing, due to the lower cost of producing the glassrequired for manufacturing the articles for which orders are obtained,while at the same time the quality and speed of manufacturing thosearticles is as good, or better, than in any previously knownmanufacturing arrangement.

Turning now to the apparatus, particularly forming the subject-matter ofthis application, Figs. 1 and 5 there is indicated at dot-and-dash linesat F, a glass feeding device which may be of the type disclosed in apatent to Peiler 1,760,254, granted May 27, 1930 for Apparatus forfeeding molten glass, or may be of any other desired type. Theparticular construction and operation of the feeding device F form nopart of the present invention and hence will not be described in detail.

The machine of our present invention comprises a plurality, in this casesix, of forming units indicated generally by the numbers I to 6respectively. Each of the forming units 1 to 6 may be, and preferablyis, of the general type disclosed in the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119above referred to, with certain changes which will be hereinafter morefully described in detail. The forming units are arranged in a groupabout a common center or point and are preferably disposed in asubstantially radial arrangement about this point, although the angularspacing between the center lines of adjacent units may be unequal. Also,it is not essential that the center lines of the several units beexactly radialof any one point. The group arrangement of the severalunits is for the purpose of permitting these units to be supplied withcharges of glass from a single source, as the feeder F, preferably bychute systems to be described in detail hereinafter, which will be asnear similar as possible so that charges arriving at each of the severalunits may be in substantially the same condition upon arrival.

Base construction and movement of units as a whole Each of the units 1to 6 is suitably secured to a base member 1 (Figs. 3 and 4) which ismounted for sliding movement upon a sub-base 8, suitable guidewaysindicated at 9 being provided for retaining the base i in properposition upon the sub-base ii. The several sub-bases 8 are suitablysecured at their inner ends to a main base casting 09, preferably by capscrews (not shown).

Means are provided for moving the individual units 6 to (i into and outof their operative positions, here shown as a movement in asubstantially radial direction with respect to the center of base ill.Su'ch means in the present instance include a pair of fluid pressurecylinders l I for each unit, these cylinders being secured to thesub-base 8 at their inner ends, as indicated at I2 (Fig. 4). Pistons 13in the cylinders II are provided with piston rods M secured to the baseI at 15, as by providing the outer ends of the rods M with reducedportions passing through a suitable downward projection of the basemember i and provided with nuts 16 threaded on such reduced portions attheir outer ends. Fluid pressure may be supplied to the opposite ends ofthe cylinders H by any suitable manually operated valve mechanism (notshown) for moving the units between their operative or inward positionsand their inoperative or outward positions, at which latter access maybe had to the several parts of the units for replacement, repair oradjustment.

Charge distributing means Means are provided for distributing moldcharges separated from the source of glass by the feeder F to theseveral units of the machine,

such means being supported by a main supporting ring 11 (Figs. 1 and 5)which is in turn supported upon three standards l8, l9 and 28 (Figs. 2,3 and 5). These standards are suitably supported by the fixed basestructure, above referred to, standard 18 being secured to the centralstandard 19 by bolts 21, as indicated in Fig. 3, and standards 19 and 29being secured between adjacent sub-bases 8- by bolts 22.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5, each of the chute systemsincludes a deflector suitably disposed to direct a charge into the blankmold of its associated unit and supported by a bracket 26 suitablyadjustably supported from a bracket 25 which is in turn secured to thesupporting ring 11.

The intermediate element of each of the chute systems is an inclinedchute 25 supported at its lower end by a bracket 21 which may be a partor extension of the bracket 26 and supported at its upper end upon asuitably pivotal support 28 of a bracket 29 formed upon, or secured to ahorizontally disposed ring (-311 which is in turn supportedfrom the ringll by a plurality of intermediate bracket members 31. The chute member25 and the deflector member 23 may be suitably adjusted to direct thecharges in the desired manner into the associated blank mold byadjusting means indicated generally at 92,

such means not being illustrated or described in detail in thisapplication, but are particularly illustrated and described in the InglePatent No. 1,911,119 above referred to. The particular character ofthese adjusting means forms no necessary part of the present invention.The third and last component of the chute system for each forming unitis a scoop or projectable charge interceptor member 33, which is securedto the outer end of a piston rod 39 extending through a pneumaticcylinder which is secured to the ring l'i. Fluid pressure may beadmitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder 35, as seen in Fig. 5,for projecting the scoop 33 outward from the cylinder, to the left asseen in Fig. 5, to bring this scoop into alignment with the orifice ofthe feeder F and thus to intercept a charge of glass dropping therefromand direct it down chute 26 and along the deflector 23 to the blank moldof the associated forming unit. Retraction of the scoop 53 isaccomplished through tension springs 36 each secured at one end to abracket carried by the scoop and at its other end to a suitable fixedanchorage. Thus in the event that the pressure is cut off at any timefrom the cylinder 35 and exhausted therefrom, the springs 36 willretract the scoop out of alignment with the feeder orifice and to aninoperative position. When any of the forming units is to be thrown outof operation, the lever by which this is accomplished automaticallyexhausts pressure from the associated cylinder so as to permit theretraction of the associated scoop even should it be at its outermostposition at the time the lever is moved.

Cullet disposal means In the event that any charges of glass aresupplied by the feeder F at a time when none of the scoops or chargeinterceptors 33 of any of the units are in a position to intercept suchcharges and. direct them to their associated units, the charges willfall through a deflecting chute or tube 31 which is suitably secured tothe ring 30, as seen in Fig. 5, and will be directed laterally of theremoval means for the finished ware, as indicated in Fig. 2, and droppedinto a cullet funnel 36, shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The cullet funnel 38will then deflect the charges down through the sleeve member 39 to whichit is secured and preferably down through an aperture in the floor uponwhich a machine is mounted to.

some suitable receiving point therebeneath. The subsequent dispositionof the cullet forms no part of the present invention.

As seen in Fig. 2, the charges of glass will be received eccentricallyof the cullet funnel 38, and in the event that a large number of glasscharges were supplied to a single point on the funnel, this point mightbecome so highly heated that the glass would adhere thereto and pile upthereon, thus interfering with the desired operation of the machineand/or of the ware-handling means associated therewith. In order toprevent such an occurrence, the funnel 38 is continuously rotated sothat successive charges will be receivedupon relatively cool portionsthereof and thus will not adhere thereto.

A suitable mechanical train is employed to rotate the funnel 38 from anavailable source of power, which in the present instance is the sameveyor, and controls the timing of the several forming units of themachine. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 5, the feeder F may beoperated by any prime mover here shown diagrammatically as an electricmotor 40. Power for operating the feeder is transmitted from the motor40 through a suitable sprocket chain 4| to the main feeder drive shaft42 by which the various operating mechanisms of the feeder are driven.Upon the shaft 42 is a sprocket wheel 43 which is connected to drive asprocket wheel 44 by a sprocket chain 45. The sprocket wheel 44 issecured to a transverse shaft 46 (Figs. 1 and 5) journaled in suitablebearings in brackets 41 and 48 projecting from and secured to the ring11. The shaft 46 carries secured thereto a bevel pinion 49 which mesheswith a bevel pinion 50 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaftprojecting from the differential gear box 5|. The shaft 52 projects fromthe lower side of the box 5| and is journaled in suitable bearings asindicated at 53 and 54. Within the box 5! is suitable mechanism bywhicha phase adjustment may be made between the shaft upon which thebeveled gear 50 is mounted and the shaft 52, this adjustment beingaccomplished by rotation of the crank 55. Thus the drive from the motor40 through to the shaft 52 is continuous although the phase relationbetween the rotation of the motor, and hence the cycle of the feeder andthe rotation of the shaft 52, may be varied by turning the crank 55. Atits lower end the shaft 52 has secured thereto beveled pinion 56 whichmeshes with a beveled gear 51 on a horizontal shaft 58 which is suitablyjournaled in thebase member 10. The shaft 58 is provided at its innerend with a beveled pinion 59 which meshes with a beveled ring gear 60suitably secured t the collar 39, as by one or more pins 6|. Thus, thesleeve member 39 and hence the funnel 38 will be continuously rotated aslong as the motor 40 and the feeder F remain in operation.

Forming operating and timing means The forming units of the presentmachine are cach similar to the others, with certain minor exceptionslater to be set forth, and are essentially similar to the individualunits of the machine set forth in detail in the Ingle Patent No.1,911,119, above referred to. No claim is made in this applicationsolely to the details of the forming units, and hence only a briefdescription thereof will be given.

The forming units, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, each include a blankmold 62 to which charges of glass are periodically supplied from thefeeder F through the chute system above described Each unit alsoincludes a blow mold 63 in which parisons formed in the blank mold areblown to final form and from which the finished articles are removed bytake-out means hereinafter to be described. A third main element of eachof the forming units is a means for transferring the partially formedarticles or parisons from the blank mold 62 to the blow mold 63. Thismeans comprises a neck ring held in a holder 64 and adapted to beinverted about a horizontal axis 65 intermediate the blank and blowmolds, thus simultaneously transferring and inverting the parisons asset forth in the Peiler Patent No. 1,826,019, above referred to. Theblank mold 62 is formed of two complementary halves mounted in suitableholders 66, pivoted upon a common fixed vertical axis 61. Means areprovided for opening and closing the blank mold, such means including apair of vertical rods 68 extending upward through the table upon whichthe blank mold is mounted and having secured thereto, at their upper endportions, cranks 69 connected respectively to the blank mold halves bylinks I8. Any suitable means, as a pneumatic cylinder (not shown) may bedisposed within the structure or table of each unit for simultaneouslyturning the rods 68 in one direction or the other and thus opening orclosing the blank molds when required. The blow mold 63 is likewise madein two cooperating halves, each secured in a suitable holder H, whichholders are pivoted upon a common fixed vertical axis 12, as bestillustrated in Fig. 2, Each blow mold is provided with means, similar tothe means provided for the blank molds, for opening and closing it atthe desired times. Such means include vertical rock shafts 13 to whichare secured cranks I4 respectively connected to the mold holders II bylinks I5 (Figs. 2 and 5). It will be understood that the rock shafts 13are simultaneously operated to open and close their associated blow moldportions or halves in the same Way as are the rock shafts 68 for eachblank mold, and that the operating means in this case also may be apneumatic cylinder.

The neck ring itself is not shown as it is hidden by other portions ofthe device in the views included in the present drawings. The holders 64for this neck ring, however, are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, and arevertically adjustably supported by suitable brackets 78 which arepreferably formed integral with a pair of opposing pneumatic cylinders11 sleeved about suitable pistons mounted upon or forming a part of theshaft 65. Suitable means may be employed, such as springs, for movingthe cylinders T! in one direction (to close the neck ring) and pneumaticmeans for moving them in the opposite direction (to open the neck ring).The details of construction of these cylinders will be found in theIngle Patent Nos. 1,843,160 and 1,911,119 both above referred to. Hereagain, inasmuch as this particular construction forms no necessary partto the present invention, it will not be further described. Forinverting the neck rings and their holders and thereby simultaneouslyinverting the partially formed articles or parisons and transferringthem from the position in which they are formed in the blank mold to aposition in which the blow mold may be closed therearound, the cylinders11 and all parts carried thereby are adapted to rotate about the axis ofthe shaft 65. For this purpose a gear segment 18 is secured to the shaft65 and is adapted to turn the cylinders 11 and their associated parts.The gear segment 18 meshes with a vertically movable rack 19, seen bestin Fig. 2. Suitable means, such as a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), maybe employed for operating the rack 19 to cause inversion and reversionof the neck ring for transferring parisons from the blank formingposition to the final blowing position and for returning the neck ringfor forming the next succeeding parison,

Associated with the blank mold are suitable forming means including asuitable neck pin and nipple, which are not shown, due to their beinghidden by other portions of the device in the views included in theaccompanying drawings. Also associated with the blank mold 62 is afunnel support 80 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is adapted to carry a suitablefunnel for directing the charges from the deflector 23 downward into thecavity of the mold 62. For applying settle blowing pressure to the glassin the mold 62, a settle blowhead BI is provided, this settle blowheadalso serving in a later operation in the article forming cycle to act asa counterblow baffle, so that when counterblowing pressure is admittedthrough the neck ring, the head 8| will serve to shape the bottom of aparison being formed in the blank mold. The funnel support 80 and thecombined settle blowhead and counterblow baffle 8| are mounted onvertical standards 82 and 83 respectively, which standards may be thepiston rods of suitable pneumatic cylinders (not shown) by which theseparts may be moved in a vertical direction. Suitable twist cams may beprovided on the standards 82 or 83, or on some part associatedtherewith, in order that the funnel support 80 and the head 8! may berotated partially about the axes of the shafts 82 and 83 respectively,incident to their vertical movement. Associated with the final blow moldis a final blow head, not shown in Fig. 5, but indicated in Fig. 2 at84. This head is mounted upon a vertical shaft 85, similar to the shafts82 and 83, and preferably provided with pneumatic means for moving itvertically and also with a suitable twist cam for giving it a lateralmovement incident to its vertical movement.

Suitable wind supplying means illustrated at 86 and 8'! may be providedfor supplying cooling wind to the blow mold and the blank moldrespectively. Wind for distribution to the several forming units, andparticularly to the wind nozzles 86 and 81 thereof, is supplied to themain base ll] through an aperture Illa therein (Figs. 4 and 5), andthence passes through registering apertures Nib and 8a to the inside ofeach of the sub-bases 8 which preferably rest fiat on the floor on whichthe machine is mounted, so that ordinarily no provision need be made forclosing the bottom portions of the sub-bases, although a sheet metalplate (not shown) may be used for this purpose if desired. The upperportions of the sub-bases 8 are provided with large apertures 8b (Figs.3, and 4) each of which is preferably partially closed by a sheet metalplate 8c adapted to be received in a recessed portion 8d at theperiphery of the aperture 8b. The bases 1 upon which the forming unitsare mounted, are provided with apertures la which register with portionsof apertures 8b for the transmission therethrough of the cooling wind tothe interior of a box-like structure H2 forming the support for thevarious operating elements of the forming unit. From the interior ofthis structure I [2, which in practice is substantially closed, coolingwind may pass through nozzles 86 and 81 to cool the molds as i desired,suitable dampers (not shown) preferably being provided for controllingthe application of such wind.

Thus it will be seen that the forming unit includes all the necessarymolds and forming means associated therewith for shaping charges ofglass to the desired form of finished articles, such as bottles of thenarrow neck type, and that all of these means may be, and preferablyare,

operated by pneumatic pressure.

The admission and exhaust of pneumatic pressure at the proper times tothe several operating means of each unit are controlled by a bank ofvalves, the location of certain of which is indicated generally at 88,Fig. 1. These valves may be controlled either to admit pressure to theirassociated pneumatic mechanism or cut off the positive admission ofpressure, and exhaust any pressure remaining therein by suitable buttonspositioned adjustably about a timing drum indicated at 89 (see also Fig.6). The details of construction of this timer mechanism will be found inthe Ingie Patent No. 1,843,159, granted Feb. 2, 1932 above referred to.In that patent there is disclosed that a relatively short button on thedrum 89 contacts with certain valve operating mechanism and moves theassociated valve to a position such that pressure will be admittedthrough a pressure supply line to an associated mechanism. This pressurewill be admitted until a relatively longer button positioned on the drum89, in the same line as the short button, contacts with the valveoperating mechanism and moves the valve back to its initial position inwhich pressure is cut off to the associated mechanism and exhaustedthrough the valve to the atmosphere. Thus, by suitably locating shortand long buttons about the periphery of the drum 89 for each of theplurality of valves controlling the several pneumatically operatingmechanisms, it is possible to cause the operating mechanisms toaccommodate a very large variety of sizes and shapes of articles andthus to provide a large range in any part of which the machine willoperate at maximum efiiciency.

The drum 89 is adapted to be rotated once for each complete cycle of theforming unit, that is, for each charge supplied thereto or for eachcompleted article delivered therefrom. The drum 89 of each unit isarranged to' be driven by a driving gear 90 which may be suitablyclutched thereto by means later to be described, the gear 90 beingdriven (for units I, 3, 4 and 6) by a pinion 9I mounted upon a shaft 92which carries intermediate its ends a bevelled gear 93 meshing with abevelled pinion 94 (see Figs. 3 and 4), carried by a hollow shaft 95.The hollow shaft 95 telescopically receives a shaft 96 and is suitablysplined or otherwise keyed thereto, so that no relative rotation may behad between shafts 95 and 96 although, these shafts may telescope freelyone within the other. The shaft 96 carries at its inner end a bevelledpinion 91 which is continually in mesh with the bevelled ring gearwhichrotates continuously with the funnel 38 and sleeve 39 as long asthe motor 40 and feeder F remain in operation. Units 2 and 5 aresomewhat different in their arrangement from the remaining units in thatthe timing drums 89 of each of these units are located at one sidethereof rather than at the end, this for the purpose of decreasing thewidth of the machine as a whole. The connections to the various valvesoperated by the timing drum 89 of the units 2 and 5 are exactly the sameas the other units, the sole difference being in the position of thevalves and in the drive of their drums 89. In the case of these units,the hollow shaft 95 is provided at its outer end with a suitablesprocket wheel connected by a sprocket chain 98 with a sprocket wheel,which replaces in its position and functions the gear 90. Thus the drivefrom the shaft 95 to the drum 89 of units 2 and 5 is slightly differentfrom the others, but the ratios of the sprocket wheels' are the same asis the gear speed ratio between the shaft 95 and the gear 90 in thearrangement utilized in the case of units I, 3, 4 and 6 TlfldLGlBSCOpingarrangement of the shafts 95 and SIG-permits of the outward movement ofthe individual units from their operative to their inoperativepositions, as above set forth. Thus a unitmay be moved to its outward orinoperative positionand then the timing drum may be put intooperation'by throwing in the clutch, later to be' described, and theoperating parts of the unit tested while at. such inoperative position.

Each unit is provided with a lever 99 (Figs. 1 and 2) by which the unitas a whole may be thrown into or out of operation. This lever operates aspecial pneumatic valve which accomplishes two things in throwing theunit out of operation. In the first place, it changes the application ofpressure from one side to the other of a clutch operating piston, shownat I00 in Fig. 6, and second when the lever is thrown to render theassociated unit inoperative, it automatically exhausts any pressurewhich may be admitted to the cylinder 35 controlling the operation ofthe associated charge interceptor or scoop 33, thus allowing thisinterceptor to be drawn to and maintained at its inoperative position bythe springs 36. The details of this valve and its operation aredisclosed in the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119 above referred to.

In Fig. 6 is shown a cross sectional detail of one of the drums 89showing particularly the pneumatic clutch for throwing the drum into orout of operation and also showing how the timing of the units may beaccomplished. The drum 89 is as a whole mounted upon a central shaftIOI, but in a way such that the shaft may freely rotate within the drum.Secured to the shaft MI is a suitable housing member 102 in from thepoint of view of the which is formed a cylinder I03, in which the pistonI00 operates. A cylinder head I04 is suitably secured to the member I02.Pressure may beadmitted to the opposite ends of the cylinder I03 fromthe valve (not shown) controlled by the handle 99 through suitablelongitudinal passages in the shaft IOI, one of which is indicated atI05, these passages communicating through lateral ports with annulargrooves formed either in the shaft IM or in the casing I02 as shown, andthose grooves in turn with the opposi e ends of the cylinder I03. Thepiston I00 issecured to a piston rod I06 carrying at its outer end a pinI01 which is adapted to enter into a single aperture in the insideperiphery of a ring I08 inside the drum 89. Thus the shaft IOI may beclutched only in a single position to the ring I08 so that when themachine as a whole is set up, the rings I08 for each unit will all be ina predetermined angular relation to each other when their associatedclutches are engaged. The ring I08 for each unit is provided on itsouter periphery with a plurality of recesses in any one of which a pinI09 extending through a single aperture in the drum 89 may be caused toenter to lock the ring at a desired angular position with respect to thedrum 89. Thus, the zero point about the periphcry of the drum maybesecured in a desired relation to the clutch member and'in turn to thezero points of the drums of the other units.

Thus, when one or more units are to be thrown out of operation, thedrums 89 of the remaining units must be so readjusted angularly withrespect to their rings I00 and the pin I09 locked in the proper recessin the rings so that their zero points will be properly distributedabout the circle andso that the units remaining in operation may betimed to receive all the charges from the feeder. Thus; for example, ifall 6 units are operating, the zero points of the several drums 89 willbe 60 apart. If only. 5 units are operating, these zero points will be72 apart; and if 4 units are operating, the zero points will be apart,etc.

Another adjustment which must be made in retiming the device in orderthat the feeder may supply a smaller number of forming units than thewhole number without loss of some charges of glass to cullet, is a ratiochange between the drive for the drums 89 of the units to be operatedand the feeder drive. This is preferably accomplished by interchangingone or both the sprocket wheels 43 and 44 (see Fig. 5) for othersprocket wheels having a desired ratio. This will change the ratio ofthe feeder drive with respect to that of all the operating unitssimultaneously so that mechanisms thus far described, but one such ratiochange need be made. In the usual practice, each unit is operated at itshighest efficient speed so that when a smaller number of units is to beoperated, the feeder speed is proportionately reduced and a suitableratio change is made as above set forth, to cause each unit to operateafter the change at its highest efiicient speed. This will result in theunits remaining in operation receiving and forming to the desired shapeall the charges supplied by the feeder F. At the same time, some changemay have to be made in the phase changing device Si by suitable rotationof the crank 55, and of course a change must usually be made in theangular relation between the drums 89 of the units to be continued inoperation and their respective rings I00.

One of the differences between the forming units of the presentapplication and the units disclosed in the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119and now commercially used in the Hartford I. S. machine, is in the meansfor vertically adjusting the bottom plates for the final blow moldswhich may be used for compensating for moldsof different heights. Thischange was made in the instant case in order to render the adjustingmeans for these bottom plates more accessible than would be the casewere the present commercial means employed. The present construction isbest illustrated in Fig. 9 in which is shown a horizontal sectional viewof a portion'of a unit taken part way down the box-like base structureat the top of which the molds are mounted. As shown in Fig. 9, the unitcomprises a box-like structure I I2 having a recessed portion I I3 atone end substantially under the position of final blow mold 63. In theportion IIB is received a slide IM which is retained in a desiredposition by guide portions II5 and III). The final blow bottom plate ismounted upon a stem II'I suitably connected in or to the slide IM. Foradjusting the slide IM vertically with respect to the base member H2 of.the unit, the rear member I18 of the slide I M is provided with rackteeth meshing with a pinion I I9 secured to a transversely extendingshaft I26. The shaft I20 is suitably journaled in one side of the basemember I I2 and in a projection of the recessed portion I Is thereof. Atits outer end the shaft I20 carries secured thereto a worm wheel I2Iwhich meshes with a worm I22 secured to a shaft I23, the upper end ofwhich is squared for engagement by a suitable tool. Thus by rotating theshaft I23 by a suitable tool, the slide IM and the bottom plate carriedthereby may be adjusted vertically. It will be seen that the shaft I23is accessible from one side of the unit, as indicatedin Fig. 2.

Takeout tongs, actuating and adjusting mechanisms therefor adjustment ofthe takeout mechanism are further illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

The takeout tongs I24 (Fig. 7) are carried by a structure including acylinder I25, which is slid ably received in vertical guideways foradjustment with respect to the unit base IIZ, as shown in detail in Fig.9. For this purpose, the cylinder I 25 is provided with lateral flangeportions I26 which are guided respectively by a portion of the guide II6 and by a guide I2'I for vertical adjustive movement of the cylinderI25 with respect to the base I I2. The inner face of the cylinder I25 isformed flat for contact with the fiat face of the base member I I2.There is provided on this fiat face suitable rack teeth indicated atI28, with which meshes a pinion I29 secured to a short shaft journaledin a suitable bearing in one side of the base member H2 and havingsecured thereto at its outer end a worm wheel I 30. Cooperating with theworm wheel I30 is a worm I3I secured to a vertical shaft I32 the upperend of which is squared, as illustrated at I33 in Figs. 7 and 9, for thereception of a suitable tool in the same way as in the case of shaft I23above described. Thus by rotation of the shaft I32 by a suitable toolapplied to the squared end I33 thereof, vertical adjustive movement willbe imparted to the cylinder I25with respect to the base H2 and therebyto the takeout tongs for accommodating articles of different heights.

As illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the cylinder I25 is providedwith a piston I34 to which is connected a piston rod I35 having at itsupper end an offset but rigid connection I36 with a vertical rack I31which meshes with a pinion I38 by which the arm I39 carrying a tongs isrotated about the axis of the shaft upon which this pinion is mounted.Thus the tongs may be moved back and forth through an angle ofsubstantially 180 bythe admission and exhaust of pressure to the upperand lower ends of the cylinder I25. Such admission and exhaust ofpressure is controlled by the timing drum t9. Suitable means of theparallel motion type, and preferably comprising three meshing pinions,are included within the arm I 39 in a manner not here specificallyillustrated for maintaining the tongs carrying member I II) with itsaxis always vertical irrespective of the rotation of the arm I39 asabove described. Means for opening and closing the tongs I2 3 areincluded within the member I I0 and may comprise a suitable pneumaticcylinder for moving the tongs from closed to open position and asuitable springs for closing the tongs when the pressure to suchcylinder is exhausted. The details of the parallel motion means and thetongs operating means are not here specifically illustrated as theyform, per se, no part of the present invention.

Means are provided in connection with the lower end of the cylinder I25for adjustably stopping the downward movement of the piston I36 in thiscylinder and thus for adjustably determining the limit of movement ofthe tongs toward the final blow mold of the associated unit. Such meansin the present instance include a vertically adjustable bottom MI (Figs.7 and 8) for this cylinder which may be adjusted to determine the lowerlimit of the piston movement therein. For adjusting the bottom MIvertically with respect to the cylinder I25, it is provided with a stemM2 threaded into the lower cylinder head I (IS. The lower end of thestem M2 is squared as illustrated at Mil and passes loosely through asquare hole in a cap member M5 sleeved loosely about a circularprojection on the lower end of the cylinder head M3. The squared end MBof the stem M2 is provided with a transverse pin M6 to prevent excessivemovement of the bottom MI withrespect to the cap M5. The cap M5 isprovided with an annular series of beveled gear teeth I All meshing witha beveled pinion M8 secured to a transverse shaft M9 whichis journaledin a suitable bearing in a bracket extension I of the cylinder head M3.

The shaft M9 is provided with a squared end ISI for the reception of asuitable tool by which the shaft M9 and cap I may be rotated. Rotationimparted to the cap M5 will be transmitted to the stem M2 to rotate thisstem and thus screw it up or down with respect to the cylinder head M3,thus raising or lowering the bottom MI with respect to the cylinder I25.Pressure admission and exhaust means are formed in the bottom M I,includ ing a ball check valve I52, through which pressure may passfreely into the lower end of the cylinder, but which prevents fiow ofpressure in the opposite direction. The head MI is further provided witha tapered aperture I53 which is adapted to cooperate with acorrespondingly shaped pin on the lower end of the piston I34 forproviding a cushion stop for the downward piston movement, as set forthspecifically in the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119, above referred to.

Thus, by the combined adjustment of the cylinder I25 vertically withrespect to the base H2 and the minor vertical adjustment of the bottomI4I of the cylinder, the tongs I24 may be caused to operate in a desiredarc to accommodate the takeout to bottles of varying heights. Both theseadjustments for the takeout are accessible from the side of the formingunit, particularly when the unit is moved to its outward position, whichis a slightly different arrangement from the corresponding partsdescribed in the Ingle Patent No. 1,911,119.

Air pressure for moving the piston I34 in its cylinder I25 for openingthe tongs when such action is desired, is supplied through suitablepressure ducts from the timing valves controlled by the drum 89 of thecorresponding unit, so that the takeout mechanism may be properly timedwith respect to the other mechanisms of the unit with which it isassociated.

Conveyor, mounting, operating and adjusting means for different numbersof units in operation Associated with the plural unit machine abovedescribed is a conveyor for transporting finished articles from theregion of the machine and preferably from a region substantiallycentrally 0f the several forming units thereof to a desired deliverypoint at which, for example, a stacker (not shown) may be situated forstacking articles transported by the conveyor onto the belt of aglassware annealing lehr (not shown). The con-' veyor is indicated inthe accompanying drawings by the reference character C and is preferablycontinuously driven by suitable mechanism timed and synchronized withthe operatiorfof the feeder F and the several units of the formingmachine.

The conveyor, as a whole, is supported by a base structure made up of apair of longitudinally extending channel irons I54 (see Figs. 11, 12 and13). These channel irons are secured together by an upper plate I55 anda lower plate I56, so that the whole forms a duct or passage for apurpose hereinafter to be described. The structure, including channelirons I54 and upper and lower plates I55 and I56, is supportedintermediate its ends upon a cross channel I51 (Figs. 10 and 11) whichis mounted upon the upper ends of jack ,screws I58 threaded throughsuitable brackets I59 which are secured to the lateral sides of thestandard I8. The jack screws I58 are preferably locked in adjustedposition by the lock nuts I60 adapted to be tightened against the lowersurfaces of the brackets I59. Any suitable vertically adjustable supportmay be employed for the other end of the conveyor, by which this end maysimilarly be adjusted vertically and by which the level of the conveyormay also be adjusted as desired. This latter support is not shown in theaccompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that it may be of anydesired type suitable for the purpose.

Suitable rolls are provided at each end of the supported structure forthe conveyor, the one at the inner end being shown at I6I, Fig. 11, andthat at the outer end being indicated in dotted lines at I62 in Figs. 1and 2. Driving power for operating the conveyor is preferablytransmitted thereto through the roll I62, which is secured to asprocketwheel about which a sprocket chain I64 passes. At theoppositeend of its course, the sprocket chain I64 passes about a sprocket wheelsecured to a transverse shaft I65 (Fig. 10) which is journaled insuitable bearings I66 and I61 se cured to the channel members I54 whichsupport the conveyor, and which carries at its end oppowheel I14 securedto the vertical shaft 52, which,

as above explained, is driven directly from the motor which operates thefeeder. Thus as long as the motor 40 remains in operation to operate thefeeder F, the conveyor C will be driven continuously through themechanical train above described.

From the point of view of synchronizing the operation of the'conveyorwith that of the feeder and also of the various forming units, it willbe seen that the conveyor will be moved a certain predetermined distancefor every charge supplied by the feeder, and that this distance will beunchanged by different settings of the crank of the phase changingdevice 5|, although during such change of setting of the crank 55, andas a result thereof, the particular point at which an article will beplaced upon the conveyor will be changed with respect to the feeder, butthat once the crank 55 remains stationary the articles will have'thesame spacings between centers as before the adjustment. Furthermore, itwill be noted that even though a smaller number of units than the totalnumber are in operation, the conveyor would normally be moved the samepredetermined distance for each charge fed by the feeder were it not forthe fact that the ratio of speed between the shafts 42 and 46 (Fig. 5)has been changed by interchanging the sprocket wheels about whichsprocket chain 45 passes. In order, therefore, to insure that thespacing of articles on' the conveyor will be the same for variousnumbers of forming units in operation, a corresponding change may bemade, preferably in the sprocket wheels about which sprocket chain I64passes, to offset the change made in the. sprocket wheels about whichchain 45 passes. For this reason the sprocket wheels about which chainI64 passes are made removable and interchangeable, so as to'reestablishthe initial relation of speed between the feeder and conveyor,

so that the conveyor will always move a certain predetermined distancefor each charge fed irrespective of the number of forming units that arein operation. Thus when a different number of forming units is to beemployed, it is necessary to change the ratios of the sprocket wheelsabout which sprocket chain 45 passes and make a corresponding change inthe other direction in the sprocket wheels about which chain I64 passes.

Dead plates and ware cooling means In order to provide for the coolingof articles I removed from the final blow molds of the several units ina somewhat semi-plastic condition and thereby to prevent such articlesbeing deformed due to their relatively high plasticity, it is desiredthat the articles be first placed upon suitable dead plates throughwhich cooling wind may be passed for abstracting heat therefrom,particularly from the bottom portions of the articles which are usuallythe hottest at the time the articles are removed from the molds.

For this purpose, a plurality of dead plates equal in number to theunits, i. e., six, are provided, as generally indicated at I15, Figs. 2,5, 10, 11 and 12. These dead plates are preferably formed as hollowcastings suitably secured to the conveyor supporting channels I 54, asby bolts I16 (Figs. 10 and 11). The tops of these castings are formedwith recessed openings in which are inset suitable plates I11 (Fig. 12)having perforations I18 therein through which cooling wind may pass tocool articles placed thereon.

Cooling wind may be admitted to the inside of the passage formed bychannels I54 and top and bottom plates I55 and IE6 through a lateralport I19 (Figs. 5, 10 and 11) from any suitable source, the wind passingalong the passage space within the conveyor supports and thence throughaligned ports I80 (Fig. 12) in the channels I54 and sides of the hollowmembers or castings I15 to the interior thereof, and thence upwardlythrough the perforations I18 onto the articles to be cooled. Suitabledampers (not shown) may be employed, if desired, for controlling theamount of wind passing through each of the dead plates,

although the use of such dampers is not necessarily required as thearticles normally rest upon each of the dead plates the same length oftime, so that the control by a single damper, or other suitable controlof the amount of wind admitted through the port I19 to the conveyorsupporting casing will usually be suificient.

The takeouts described in a preceding section are adapted to removefinished articles from the final blow molds of the several unitsrespectively, and place them centrally of the dead plates I15 Justdescribed.

Push-017s from dead plates to conveyor-construction, mounting, operationand synchronization Associated with each of the dead plates I15 formoving articles therefrom onto the conveyor C is a push-off meansincluding a pair of fingers I M mounted horizontally in a suitablesupport ing post I82. Each post I82 is mounted in an arm I83 foradjustment about the axis of the post, so as to adjust the position ofthe fingers I8I and the angle at which they contact with the articles inmoving them from the dead plates onto the conveyor. The arms I 83 aremounted for free pivotal movement on vertical pintles I84, two of whichon each side of the conveyor are supported by two of the dead platecastings I15, and the other of which is supported upon a suitablebracket I85.

Also mounted on the pintles I84 are arms I86 having extensions I81adapted to engage with the arms I83, as seen best in Fig. 10, to movethe arms I83 in one direction in response to movement of the arms I86.Arms I83 and I86 are respectively connected together by tension springsI88, ,so that these arms are normally maintained in a predeterminedangular relation each to the other. However, should the fingers I8I ofone of the arms come in contact with some obstruction which will noteasily move, so that breakage might result should not a yieldingconnection be provided, the springs I88 will yield,

permitting relative motion between the fingers I8I and the associatedarms I86.- The arms I86 are connected by links I89 with one armrespectively of bell cranklevers I90 journaled for independent movementupon pintles I9I, there being three of these levers on each side of theconveyor C for operating the three push-offs on the respective sides.The other arms of the bell crank levers I90 are formed as cam followersand are located in the paths of rotary cams I92 mounted upon shafts I93and I94 respectively. Tension springs I 95 connect each of the bellcrank levers I90 with suitable anchorages I96 and thus keep the camfollowers in contact with the cams and serve to retract the push-offfingers I8I after an article has been moved onto the conveyor. Thus thecams I92 are effective positively to move the bell cranks I90, the linksI89, and the levers I86, and in the event that the fingers I8I strikesome obstruction, the springs I88 will yield, permitting this movementwithout injury to any of the parts. Stop screws I90 may be provided asindicated and may be adjustably positioned to predetermine the outwardpositions of the respective push-off fingers as desired.

The cams I92 on either side of the conveyor C are preferably formed as asingle unit in a group of three, and are interchangeable so as tocompensate for different numbers of forming units in operation. Thesecams are formed upon sleeves I 91 (Fig. 14) each of which is providedwith a cross pin I98 secured therein and adapted to be received in aslot I98 in the upper ends of the shaft I93 or I94. These shafts I93 andI94 have pinned thereto, adjacent to their upper ends, collars I99resting upon the top of bearing sleeves 200 which are suitably securedto a bracket 20I, as by pins 202 (Figs. 13 and 15). The bracket MI issuitably secured to the conveyor frame channels I54 as by bolts 203(Fig. 13). Thus the sleeves I91 and cams I92 formed thereon on each sideof the conveyor may be easily removed as a whole, and difi'erentlyshaped cams substituted therefor when it is desired to utilize adifierent number of forming units or different forming units.

The shafts I93 and I94 have secured thereto. at their lower ends,bracket extensions 204 (Figs. 15 and 16). In these bracket extensionsare journaled transverse shafts 205 carrying the worms 206 meshing withworm wheels 201, which are mounted for free rotation with respect to theshafts I93 and I94. Thus by turning the handles 208 on the ends of theshafts 205, the worms 206 may be rotated to change the angular relationbetween the shaft I 93 or I 94 and their associated Worm wheels 201.The-worm wheels 201 are keyed rigidly to reduced extensions 209,preferably integral with large gear wheels 2I0. Gear wheels 2I0 meshwith one another, as indicated in Fig. 10, and one of these gear wheelsalso meshes with a pinion 2II secured to the shaft I 10 by which poweris transmitted from the motor 40 which operates the feeder to; drive theconveyor C, as above set forth.

The bracket 20I also supports the vertical pintles I9I upon which the.bell cranks I90 are mounted. In Fig. 11 it will be seen that thesepintles I9l are formed with three successively smaller diameters, sothat the weight of each of the bell cranks is sustained by the shoulderintermediate the several dlameters of these shafts rather than upon eachother.

The parts are shown in Figs. 10 and 11 in an arrangement in which allsix forming units are in operation. Under these circumstances the motor40 will operate the feeder F and motion will be transmitted throughthemechanical train above set forth to operate the push-off fingers I8Iin proper synchronized timed relation to the operation of the severalunits. Should it be desired to change the time the articles are allowedto remain upon the dead plates, this may be accomplished by changing thephase relation between the angular position of shafts I93 and I94 andtheir driving means (the gears 2H1) that is, by rotating the shafts 205by turning the'handles 208 at the bottom of each of the shafts I93 andI94. Under ordinary circumstances, the time in which articles areallowed to remain upon the dead plates I15 is preferably the same forarticles delivered to each side of the conveyor, so that a simultaneousadjustment by the same amount will be made in the setting of the handles208 which rotate the shafts 205.

If now it is desired to operate a lesser number of units than the total,it is necessary that the cam shafts I93 and I94 rotate at a slower ratewith respect to the feeder, that is, rotate one revolution for a numberof charges corresponding to the number of units remaining in operation.Under these circumstances,'the interchanging of the sprocket wheels 43and 44, about which sprocket chain 45 passes, will serve to effect thistiming relation change. If then the appropriate cams are placed upon theshafts I93 and I94, instead of those shown on these shafts, the pushingfingers may be operated in proper synchronized timed relation. Thus theonly additional change to those above set forth required in orderproperly to time the operation of the pusher fingers with the operationsof the feeder and forming units for a smaller number of units inoperation than the total number is to interchange the sets of cams I92carried by sleeves I91 on each side of the conveyor C.

General arrangements and adjustments for the entire machine andassociated mechanisms From the above description it will be apparentthat we have provided a machine including six similar autonomous glassforming units all adapted to receive charges from a single feeder andall grouped about a common point in vertical alignment with the orificeof that feeder through which the glass passes to be separated intocharges for distribution to all the units.

The general arrangement of the sections is such that they aresubstantially radially arranged about a point in vertical alignment withthe feeder orifice, so that planes containing the axes of the blank andblow molds of each unit respec tively will pass through and intersect ina vertical line through the feeder orifice. In this way the horizontalcomponent of the path of a charge of glass down the chute system to anyunit will also lie in the plane including the vertical axes of the blankand blow molds of that unit, so that in the event that the blank moldsare of irregular shape, for example, such as to form parisons for theproduction of panel bottles or other irregular ware, the charges will bereceived in the blank molds of all units in exactly the same way.

Furthermore, it will be seen from a consideration of the abovedescription that the blank molds of each of the several units are spacedfurther from the center about which the several forming units aregrouped in a horizontal direction than are their corresponding blowmolds. This results in the possibility of removing articles from thefinal blow molds of each of the units toward a region central of theseveral units, so that in ated therewith of practice the articles-mayberemoved from the final blow molds in'a direction generally toward J thecenter and may be there placed upon a single conveyor-in the mannerillustrated and described. This simpli fies greatly the handling of theware from aa plural unit machine in which the units eachoccupy a fixedpredetermined position, espeeiallyas opposed to prior machines in whichthe removal of completed articles is necessarily to the outside, that inthe event that the several units occupy fixed positions as a whole, theproblem of ware handling for the completed articles becomes extremelydiflicult, and the devices used therefor cumbersome.

It will also be seen that we have provided a machine and ware handlingmechanisms associan extremely flexible nature, sothat any number ofunits up to the whole number may be operated in proper time relationeach to the others, and in proper synchronized time relation with thefeeder and with articlehandling means, and so that no charges of glasssupplied by the feeder need be lost when a smaller number of formingunits is in operation than the total number provided. This makes for theu-tmost flexibility in the planning and scheduling of manufacturingoperations to the end that a uniform draw upon the associated tank inwhich the glass is produced is made possible.

While it is contemplated that any of the several units may be withdrawnfor purpose of changing molds, as for instance, for starting themanufacture of a different type of article, or for repair or adjustmentof any parts, one of the chief functions of this machine is its abilityto operate, as above set forth, with a smaller number of forming unitsthan the total number. If one or more units are to be put out ofoperation for the sole purpose of operating a fewer number of units, itmay be found desirable to operate certain only of the units and in apredetermined sequence. For example, if all six units are to be inoperation, the sequence of supplying charges thereto may be 4, 1, 5, 3,6, 2; when five sections are to be operated the sequence may be 3, 6, 4,1, 5; when four units are to be operated, the sequence may be 3, 6, 4,1; when three units are to be operated, the sequence may be 3, 1, 5; andwhen two units are to be operated, the sequence may be 2, 5.

The sequences of supplying charges to the several units here given aresuch that if the conveyor is moved a distance equal to the distancebetween centers of adjacent dead plates on one side of the conveyor inthe interval of time between the supplying of successive charges, thearticles will be spaced on the conveyor in equally spaced relation, andthe distance between the centers of adjacent articles will be equal tothe distance between centers of adjacent dead plates.

In each of the above given schedules for sequential operation of theforming units, it is to be noted that relatively opposite units aresupplied with charges of glass in sequence. The primary purpose of thisorder of operation is to provide for the most rapid operation of theseveral units which is possible. Thus by supplying in sequence unitsspaced apart by at least one intermediate unit, the relative angle atwhich the sequentially operated charge interceptor scoops are projectedinto charge intercepting position is substantially such that one scoopneed not be wholly withdrawn from its charge intercepting positionbefore the scoop of the next succeeding unit to be supplied with acharge is started in its movement toward its charge interceptingposition. Should adjacent units be operated sequentially, it would benecessary to wait until the charge interceptor scoop of one unit wassubstantially completely withdrawn before the scoop of the adjacent unitcould be started forward toward its charge intercepting position, whichwould entail a time lag, which in the course of 24 hours would result ina lower production for the machine as a whole. Thus any desiredsequential operation may be employed, but preferably some such sequenceas that given should be used in order that units which are to besupplied with successively fed charges of glass will be spaced apart byat least one intermediate unit.

While it is desirable, as above set forth, that adjacent units be notsupplied with charges in sequence, especially where all the units are inoperation, this sequential supplying of charges becomes of lessimportance where one or more of the units are thrown out of operation,as for example, in the event that it is desired to use three, four orfive of the units in equally spaced relation, as above set forth,leaving the remainder out of operation. Under these circumstances, it issometimes more important to be able to use any desired units up to thenumber desired to be operated with a free selection of the particularunits to be used. Our device is adaptable to this manner of operation,and provides for the free selection of any number of units from one tosix, and any desired units with the accompanying ability to place thearticles on the conveyor in equally spaced relation, although thisspacing is not always the full distance between adjacent dead plates orany one predetermined fraction thereof. We have, however, discovered thenovel relationship that if-n is the number of units to be operated, afree selection of the particular units may be had and the articles maybe placed upon the conveyor in evenly spaced relation and with adistance apart equal to times the distance between adjacent dead platessive supplying of relatively opposite units with charges of glass. Someof the other sequences using a smaller number of units do not adhere tothis rule.

With five units in operation and with unit 4 out, the sequence is4-2-6-3-5Twithjunit 2 out, 3-6-4-1-5; with unit 3 out, 4-2-6-1-5; withunit 4 out, 3-5-1-6-2; with unit 5 out, 4-1-3-2-6; and with unit 6 out,3-5-1- 4-2.

The sequences of supplying of charges to the several units using only 4of those units is as follows: with units l and 2 out, 3-5-4-6; withunits I and 3 out, 4-2-5-6; with units 1 and 4 out, 3-6-2-5; with unitsl and 5 out, 3-4- 2-6; with units l and 6 out, 4-5-3-2; with units 2 and3 out, 4-5-6-1; with units 2 and 4 out, 3-5-1-6; with units 2 and 5 out,3-6- 4-1; with units 2 and 6 out, 4-3-5-1; with units 3 and 4 out,5-6-2-1; with units 3 and 5 out, 4-2-6-1; with units 3 and 6 out, 4-1-5-2; with units 4 and 5 out, 3-2-1-6; with units 4 and 6 out, 3-5-2-1;and with units 5 and 6 out, 4-2-3-1.

' and 5 out, 6-2-4; with units i, 3 and 6 out,

5-2-4; with units i, 4 and 5 out, 6-2-3;

.with units 1, 5 and 6 out, 2-4-3; with units 2, 3 and 4 out, 6-1-5;with units 2, 3 and 5 out, 4-1-6; with units 2, 3 and 6 out, 1-5-4;

with units 2, 4 and 5 out, 3-6-1; with units 2, 4 and 6 out, 3-5-1; withunits 2, 5 and 6 out, 3-4-1; with units 3, 4 and 5 out, 2-6-1; withunits 3, 5 and 6 out, 4-2-1; and with units 4, 5 and 6 out, 3-2-1.

In the same way the sequences of operation when using but 2 of theavailable units is as follows:

When When and 2 1-2; and 3 1-3;

using units 6 using units i When When When Thus, according to thismanner of operation, if 6 units are in operation, the articles will bespaced apart one-sixth of the distance between adjacent dead plates onone side of the conveyor; if 5 units are to be operated, the spacingwill be one-fifth of the distance between dead plates; if 4 units,one-fourth; if 3 units, one-third; if 2 units, one-half; and if 1 unitis to be operated, the distance between articles is equal to the spacingbetween adjacent dead plates. Thus, by this manner of operation, thereis provided an arrangement by which equal spacing may be had betweenarticles on the conveyor irrespective of how many units are to beoperated, and irrespective of which unit, or units, it is desired tooperate or leave out of operation. The above-given series of sequencescovers all the possible arrangements, using all possible numbers ofunits and in all possible combinations.

It is contemplated that changes may be made in the particular details ofconstruction of some or all of the various parts without departure fromthe spirit of this invention, and that individual instrumentalities orcombinations and sub-combinations thereof may have independentusefulness without the necessity of using each and every one of theinstrumentalities provided according to the foregoing description. We donot wish to be limited, therefore, except by the scope of the appendedClai.lS, which are to be construed as broadly as the state of the priorart permits.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof autonomous glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy afixed predetermined position when'in operation and all being groupedabout a point in vertical alignment with using units 4 and 5 4-5; usingunits 4 and 6 4-6; using units 5 and 6 5-6.

which glass charges 75 distribution to-all said units a source of moltenglass, all said units for operating them in synchronism, meansassociated with certain at least of said units for moving such unitsfrom their respective predetermined operative positions to inoperativepositions at which access may be had to the units for replacement orrepair of the parts thereof, or for effecting to be supplied for areseparated from a common drive for desired adjustments, and meansimparting motion from said common drive to each of said units in amanner such as to be uninterrupted by movement of any one or more unitsfrom its operative to its inoperative position.

2. Apppratus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof autonomous glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy afixed predetermined position when in operation and all being disposed ina substantially radial arrangement about a common center in verticalalignment with which glass charges to be supplied for distribution toall said units are. separated from a source of molten glass, andpneuri'ia tic piston-cylinder means associated with each of said/unitsfor moving the units in a substantially'radial direction between theiroperative positions andinoperative positions at which access may be hadtothe several units for replacement or repairs of the parts thereof, orfor effecting desired adjustment.

3. Apparatus for forming articles of glass Q ware, comprising aplurality of similar glass forming units, each adapted as a a fixedpredetermined position and all being grouped about 'a point in verticalalignment with which glass charges for distribution to all said unitsare separated from a source of molten glass, each unit including a blankmold, a final blow mold positioned laterally out of alignment with saidblank mold, means for forming masses of glass to desired shape in eachof said molds, and means for transferring partially formed glassarticles or parisons from said blank mold to said blow mold; said unitsbeing so positioned with respect to said point that the blank moldsthereof are positioned further from said point in a horizontal directionthan their respective asso- ,ciated blow molds, and means for charges ofsaid glass from said source to each of said blank molds, whereby thecompleted articles may be removed from the blow molds of all of saidunits by movement toward a region substantially centrally thereof.

4. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy afixed predetermined position and all being grouped in a substantiallyradial arrangement about a point in vertical alignment with which glasscharges for distribution to all said units are separated from a sourceof molten glass, each unit including a blank mold, a final blow molddisposed laterally forming parisons in said blank mold, means forblowing said parisons to final form in said blow mold, and means fortransferring parisons formed in said blank mold to said blow mold; saidunit being so positioned with respect to said point that a verticalplane including the axes of the blank and blow mold of each unit willpass substantially through said point and so that the blank mold of eachunit is positioned further from said point than its associated blowmold, and a chute system associated with each of said units foreffecting distribution of charges of glass from said source to the blankmold of that unit, the horizontal component of the movement of chargesthrough each chute system lying substantially inthe plane including theaxes of the blank and blow molds of the associated unit, whereby thecompleted articles may be removed from said blow molds by asubstantially radial movement toward a region substantially central ofsaid units.

5. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy afixed predetermined position and all being grouped about a point invertical alignment with which glass charges for distribution to all saidunits are separated from a source of molten glass, each unit including ablank mold, a final blow mold positioned laterally out of alignment withsaid blank mold, means for forming masses of glass to desired shape ineach of said molds, and means .for transferring partially formed glassarticles ware-bearing path outside or parisons from said blank mold tosaid blow mold; said units being so positioned with respect to saidpoint that the blank molds thereof are positioned further from saidpoint in a horizontal direction than their respectively associated blowmolds, meansfor distributing charges of glass from said source to eachof said blank molds, an endless conveyor disposed with one end of itsthe confines of the grouped forming units and said path extending atleast into the region centrally of the grouped whole to occupy 1 forming,units, means for driving said endless conveyor] and automatic means forremoving completed glass articles from the final blow molds of each ofsaid units and placing such articles on said conveyor.

6. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy afixed predetermined position and all being grouped about a point invertical alignment with which glass charges for distribution to all saidunits are separated from a source of molten glass, said units being soarranged and disposed that access may be had thereto for the removal offinished articles therefrom from the region about which distributingsaid units are grouped, an endless conveyor disposed with one end of itsware-bearing path outside the confines of the grouped forming units andsaid path extending at least into said region centrally of the groupedforming units, means for driving said endless conveyor, and automatic ofsaid blank mold, means for.

means for transferring completed articles of glassware from the severalunits onto said conveyor.

'7. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy afixed predetermined position and all being grouped in a substantiallyradial arrangement about a point in vertical alignment with which glasscharges for distribution to all said units are separated from a sourceof molten glass, each unit including a blank mold, a final blow moldpositioned laterally out of alignment with said blank mold, means forforming masses of glass to desired shapes in each of said molds, andmeans for transferring partially formed glass articles or parisons fromsaid blank mold to said blow mold; said units being so positioned withrespect to said point that the blank molds thereof are with one end ofits ware-bearing path outside the confines of the grouped forming unitsand the other end in the region centrally thereof adjacent to the pointabout which said units are grouped, a dead plate in said regioncontiguous to the path of said conveyor for each unit respectively,takeout means. for removing completed articles from the final blow moldsof each unit and placing such articles on their respective dead plates,and means for moving the articles from said dead plates onto saidconveyor.

8. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising aplurality ofsimilar glass forming units, each adapted as a whole to occupy a fixedpredetermined position and all being grouped about a point in verticalalignment with which glass charges for distribution to all said unitsare separated from a source of molten glass, said units being soarranged and disposed that access may be had thereto for the removal offinished articles therefrom from the region about which said units aregrouped, an endless conveyor dis-,

posed with one end of its Ware-bearing path outside the confines of thegrouped forming units and the other end adjacent to the point aboutwhich the units are grouped, means for driving said conveyor, aplurality of perforated dead plates contiguous to the ware-bearing pathof said conveyor and in the region about which said units are groupedfor receiving finished articles from said units respectively, means tosupply cooling air through the perforations of said dead plates forcooling articles thereon, tongs mechanism associated with each of saidunits for transferring completed articles therefrom to the respectivedead plates, and means for moving cooled articles from the dead platesonto said conveyor.

9. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar autonomous glass forming units, each adapted as a whole tooccupy a fixed predetermined position and all being grouped about aregion centrally of the units so as to be supplied with glass chargesseparated at a single place from a source of molten glass, means todisconnect at will one or more of the glass forming units, a glassfeeding mechanism for separating charges of molten glass from saidsource for distribution to all said units, each of said units includingmechanisms for forming charges of glass supplied thereto by said feedingmechanism into articles of the desired form, an endless conveyor formoving completed articles from said region to a desired delivery point,means for transferring completed articles of glassware from each of saidunits ontosaid conveyor, means for synchronizing the operation of saidfeeding mechanism, the operating mechanisms of each of said units, saidconveyor, and said transferring means when all said units are inoperation to the end that the completed articles will be uniformlyspaced apart on said conveyor and for effecting similar synchronizationof all the operating mechanisms without loss of any glass chargesdeliveredby said feeding mechanism to cullet when a lesser number ofsaid units are in operation to the end that the same spacing will existbetween articles on said conveyor as in the case in which all of saidunits are in operation.

10. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar autonomous glass forming units, each adapted as a whole tooccupy a fixed predetermined position and all being grouped so as to besupplied with glass charges separated at a single place from a sourcesaid feeding mechanism, into articles of the de-= nisms of each of saidunits, the driving means for said conveyor, the transferring means fortransferring completed articles from each of said units onto said deadplates, and the means for moving the completed articles from said deadplates onto said conveyor when all said units are in operation to theend that completed articles will be uniformly spaced apart on saidconveyor and for effecting synchronization without loss of any glasscharges delivered by said feeding mechanism to cullet when a lessernumber of said units are in operation to the end that equal spacing willexist between articles on said conveyor.

11. Apparatus for forming articles of glass- Ware, comprising aplurality of similar autonoto occupy a fixed predetermined position andall being so located as to be supplied with glass,

charges separated at a single place from a source of molten glass, meansto disconnect at will one or more of the glass forming units, a glassfeeding mechanism for separating charges of molten glass from saidsource for distribution to all saidv units, each of said units includingmechanisms for forming charges of glass supplied thereto by said feedingmechanism into articles of the desired form, an endless conveyor fortransporting completed articles from all of said units'to a desireddelivery point, means for driving said conveyor, a plurality of deadplates disposed contiguous to the ware-bearing path of said conveyor,one for each of said units respectively, means for'transferringcompleted articles of glassware from each of said units onto itsrespective dead plate, means for moving articles from the dead platesonto said conveyor, means for synchronizing the operation of saidfeeder, the mechanisms of said units, the driving means for saidconveyor, the transferring means for transferring completed articlesfrom each of said units onto said dead plates, and the means for movingarticles from the dead plates onto said conveyor when all of the unitsare in operation to the end that completed articles will be uniformlyspaced apart on said conveyor and for effecting synchronization of allthe operating mechanisms without loss of any glass charges delivered bysaid feeding mechanism to cullet when any selected units which in numberare less than the total number thereof are in operation to the end thatuniform spacing will exist between articles on said conveyor.

12. Apparatus for forming articles of glassware, comprising a pluralityof similar autono mous glass forming units, each adapted as a

